Blog : Business

I have seen some really inspiring films about women recently – and more often than not they are being a badass.

To me, badass doesn’t mean they are arrogant, ego-driven, or that they set out to hurt people. Badass means being authentic.

When you’re a badass, you feel confident, powerful, grounded and you stand up for yourself and others. You have a deep connection with your true self and you stand by your power.

Sometimes though, I find it hard to be badass. I often shy away from confrontation and the whispers of my gut. Even though I can’t always act out what I viscerally feel to be true, I do listen to it.

I need a chain of events to escalate the feeling, and often I let the chain break; I think it takes me quite a lot to feel confident.

For me, confidence is a fragile, elusive and vulnerable essence – the kind of confidence that isn’t fronted with aggression and ego. Instead, this is the ‘I’ve got your back’ kind of confidence that takes the presence of a wall, built up behind you to stop you from tumbling down if you get knocked.

My job really pushes me to be vulnerable and can often highlight to me a lack of confidence.

So why on earth do I make films?

Well, it doesn’t mean that, just because I can lack confidence, that I don’t believe that one day I will be ‘confident’. I put myself in difficult places to learn, to feel, and to respond. Some people may see that as a punishment – but I see it as a way of life.

I may change down the line, but right now I want to be better, stronger and more connected to myself, and my way of progressing is to put myself in an uncomfortable place, outside of my comfort zone.

It doesn’t matter how people connect, show authenticity or feel confident, whether it takes a piece of clothing, a religion, a mindful practice, or affirmations. I personally have an antique Japanese silk coat that gives me confidence!

As long as we acknowledge that there is a part of us, no matter how small, that does offer a spark of confidence, this is enough for now.

Not many people, if any, try their hand at something for the first time and have an amazing business within the first month. Like anything it takes a lot of learning.

It’s hard being at a level you are not happy with, but this also sparks the drive to progress.

People who seem to get great quick, often have years of experience that aren’t always connected to their new found talent. They have a background in being able to sell their ideas, they are able to market themselves well, they are good at branding, networking, or have a specific skill set that creates a good foundation for their new work.

Being the person going through every step, making every mistake and not getting things right every time can give you a perspective that you’re not very good. But if you want it, you don’t give up; you spend more time learning, listening, adapting and watching out for what you do want and where you want to be.

Smoke and Mirrors. If someone looks like they have it all sussed out and they are great in every aspect of their business, it has more than likely taken years to achieve this and/or they are great at the magic illusion of smoke and mirrors. They make everything look great on the outside whilst they learning and make mistakes away from the public eye.

The word excruciating comes to mind when you put work out that you know could be better, a website that doesn’t live up to your vision, or a blog where you wish your grammar was better! You need to embrace this exact moment, sit with it, however uncomfortable and learn from it. It doesn’t prove you’re not worthy, you’re not talented or you’re not good enough.

Everyone has horror stories, where they mucked up, made a big mistake, but this is what makes you who you are, your business what it is.

Also remember how who see the consequences of a mistake is just a perception, you could see it as the end of your business or you could see it as a quality control gage. Ever mistake you make, your quality control gage becomes more attuned. You simply work towards not making that mistake again so that future work is smoother, easier and more enjoyable.

I confess I have made films that I am not happy with , I still have a business that I strive to be better, but I also do see how far I have come and how much more confident I am when taking on a job and how my work is progressing. I have a wealth of knowledge and an effective quality control gage, which arose from getting stuff wrong. The more you get wrong, make mistakes, the easier you find problem solving and the quicker you progress.

So when you next see a business and think, “I want to be as good as them or better”. Just know that they have been exactly where you are now, they made mistakes, rose to the challenge and progressed to create a flourishing strong business.

Embrace and cherish your mistakes, they are truly a very important part of progression.